Shcaa – An Ungrateful Death

R&S welcome Parisian Sacha Khalife AKA Shcaa with his new double headed single ‘An Ungrateful  Death / Pacific Gold’, following up on his stellar EP on NYC’s Blank Slate back in 2015, two killer releases through Archipel and a more recent LP on Sharingtones.

Abstract, deep and dripping with atmosphere, ‘An Ungrateful Death’ takes the listener on an epic trippy journey –  sensuous rhythms and choppy guitars giddly colide while mumbled vocals offer a dreamy counterpoint before the whole piece transitions into an uneasily blissed out ambient coda. On the flip ‘Pacific Gold’ continues the abstraction, freeform guitar licks skitter and bounce around a loose limbed micro-house groove.

A producer, composer and guitarist based in Paris, Khalife’s restless musicality manages to uniquely meld electronics with blues, house and jazz without seeming forced. “My music found its first legitimacy within the structure of house music, the grooves as rails to let free peculiar shades,” he explains “I try to not  allow my music to fall into mindless experimentations, hopefully the graphic rhythms justify their abstraction.”

With ‘An Ungrateful Death / Pacific Gold’ sure to delight and confound dancefloors across the continent, it’s going to be interesting to see where Shcaa takes his music next.

Talaboman – Dins El Llit (Superpitcher Remix)

Taken from ‘The Night Land Remixed’, out May 18 on R&S Records.

Ada Kaleh – Palatul De Clestar EP

R&S presents a killer EP from Romania’s Ada Kaleh AKA Iulian Cuculea, which follows his stunning Alejandro Jodorowsky inspired debut LP “Dene descris” on his vinyl only imprint Ada Kaleh România.

Like many of the second wave of Romanian minimal producers, Iulian’s music combines propulsive hypnotic rhythms with rich, organic sounds that envelop the listener in an otherworldly atmosphere. “The creation process is a moment of temporary madness for me” Iulian explains, “I enjoy working with layers of sounds that intertwine and embrace like a lotus flower. Folding and unfolding.” Finding fans in the form of countrymen like Raresh, Petre Inspirescu, Rhadoo, Barac, Cezar, Priku and internationals like Ricardo Villalobos, Sonja Moonear, tINI, Prins Thomas, he’s also dropped critically acclaimed releases and/or remixes for UVAR, The Rabbit Hole, Third Wave Black, Supernature as well as his own Ada Kaleh România imprint.

Opener “Palatul de cleştar” (translated “The glass palace”, received a vinyl only release on his own label in 2014) sets the tone with a mesmeric rhythm track overlaid with a haunting clarinet part and spaced out synth gurgles that combine to enthralling effect. Apollo Records alumnus Laurine Frost supplies a trippy, blown out version that blackens the tone of the original into a work of quiet menace. On the flip “Devotare” (translated “Devotion”, also a vinyl only release on his own label in 2013) strikes a more strident tone, the grooves strut rather than purr – gauzy chord stabs weave between the beats and clunking percussion in a delicate yet complex interplay of elements.

Fellow Romanian Cosmin TRG supplies a remix which displays why he’s worthy of the hype – pushing the BPMs of the original, he creates an urgent, vigorous re-rub that maintains some of Iulian’s delicate instrumentation yet contrasts it with heavy, authoritative percussion.

07 July 2017 / R&S Records
01. Palatul De Clestar
02. Palatul De Clestar (Laurine Frost Remix)
03. Devotare
04. Devotare (Cosmin TRG Remix) – digital only

Video: Talaboman – Safe Changes

Taken from “The Night Land’
Out now – https://randsrecords.lnk.to/the-night-land
Directed – Axel Petersén

Space Dimension Controller – EXOSTACK EP

R&S welcomes back Space Dimension Controller’s Jack Hamill for an EP of his trademark future-funk, his first for the label since 2013. The EXOSTACK EP marks a welcome return from Hamill to the kind of astro-boogie that made him a unifying favourite in any discerning DJ’s record box.

“Returning to R&S after a long hiatus is a beautiful thing. Always had respect for the past and the label embellishes some great moments in dance music. Also Renaat is the the most amazingly crazy person I know so it’s always fun.” – SDC

The title track is a masterclass in wide-eyed astral disco – cycling euphoric arpeggios underpinned by dubbed out bass riffs and swooning pads. Unfurling over a sizeable 8 minutes, Hamill justifies every second with a beguiling arrangement that takes the listener on a groove excursion of epic proportions. On the flip, red hot Swede Kornel Kovacs delivers a tuff rerub that jacks up the drums, and cools out the chords, twisting the original into a classic house roller. SDC original ‘BIOPAN’ finds Hamill in more contemplative mood – pulsing drums, a subdued bass figure and woozy synth melodies combine to haunting effect.

As a digital bonus, Minimal Violence supplies a thunderous tribal take, stripping back the original, while adding pounding percussion and intense string pads for peak time mayhem.

Tracklist:
A – EXOSTACK
B1 – EXOSTACK (Kornel Kovacs remix)
B2 – BIOPAN
Digital – EXOSTACK (Minimal Violence remix)

Talaboman – Safe Changes

Safe Changes is the first track Axel Boman and John Talabot shared from their Talaboman next LP. The Night Land will be out March 3rd on R&S Records. Pre-order here : randsrecords.lnk.to/the-night-land

Mr. YT – Brand New Day LP

Apollo / R&S are proud to present a compilation album of a series of classic EPs of timeless vibes and lush percussive excursions from overlooked Japanese innovator Mr. YT AKA Yuji Takenouchi.

The ‘Brand New Day’, ‘Southern Paradise’ and ‘Parfum’ Eps were originally release between 1997 – 1998 on Apollo Records and R&S sub-labels Generations and Global Cuts.

Over the intervening years, the EPs’ heady blend of atmospheric pressure, balmy pads and deep grooves has percolated, gathering fans across the globe, to the point where original copies are in high demand on the secondhand market.

Created in the late 90s on a hardware set up of Roland Super Jupiter, Roland JV1080, Roland D550, Yamaha TX81Z and Akai S1100, Takenouchi was burning with inspiration from the sounds of Ron Trent and Chez Damier, Basic Channel, House of 909, Ian Pooley and Carl Craig.

A video game musician by profession, Takenouchi was used to producing music for specific scenes / sequences – starting from scratch had him baffled. Deciding to set a theme or concept for each EP proved to be the breakthrough he needed, a day of new environment for ‘Brand New Day’, yin and yang for ‘Southern Paradise’ and imaginary fragrances for ‘Parfum’. Looking at pictures related to each of these themes helped to fuel his creativity while producing.

From the sun dappled balearic haze of opener ‘Morning’ to the blissed out bump of ‘Afternoon’, the gauzy euphoria of ‘Ocean In Heaven’ to the cosmic funk pulse of ‘Regard’, the music contained in the ‘Brand New Day’ compilation remains as timely and relevant as the day it was released and should see Mr. YT appreciated alongside the likes of the US and European producers who first inspired him.

Out on 10th March 2017

Tracklist:
1. Morning
2. Reve
3. Souvenir
4. Afternoon
5. Pacific Jazz
6. Evening
7. Nite
8. Ocean In Heaven
9. Regard

Talaboman – The Night Land LP

John Talabot and Axel Boman AKA Talaboman, are ready to release their album, The Night Land, out March 3rd on R&S. Stream a preview of “Loser’s Hymn” off the LP, below. As they say, the record is “an attempt to reach our subconscious and to document our dreams. We want to ignite hope and push imagination. Close your eyes and open your mind.” Pre-order here.

Tracklist:
1. Midnattssol
2. Safe Changes
3. Samsa
4. Six Million Ways
5. Loser’s Hymn
6. Brutal Chugga-Chugga
7. The Ghosts Hood
8. Dins El Llit

Sporting Life – Court Vision feat. Evy Jane (Actress Remix)

After recently sharing the video for his new track “Court Vision”, featuring Vancouver singer-songwriter Evy Jane, Sporting Life is back today to share infamous UK producer Actress’ remix of the song. The release of Actress’ remix comes in conjunction with Slam Dunk Vol. II being available everywhere today via Letter Racer and R&S Records.

Video: Sporting Life – Court Vision feat. Evy Jane

Following the recent announcement of his Slam Dunk EP series on Letter Racer and R&S Records, New York electronic artist Sporting Life releases a video for new track “Court Vision”, featuring Vancouver singer-songwriter Evy Jane. Its release comes in conjunction with BitTorrent offering Slam Dunk Vol. II exclusively via its site today.

Slam Dunk Vol. II features three new original tracks and a mesmerizing eight and half minute remix of “Court Vision” by Actress. The collaboration came about following a show hosted by Actress and Sporting Life at Lot Radio in New York and a joint live show in Brooklyn’s Trans Pecos in May, meeting for the first time after an ongoing correspondence exchanging tracks.

The first release working with BitTorrent’s Discovery Fund for supporting original independent creators, the three volume project sees Sporting Life marrying his love of basketball, manga and music into a seamless and fascinating blend encompassing instrumentals, remixes, video, and original apparel.

Inspired by Takehiko Inoue’s seminal basketball-themed manga series of the same name, the project features contributions from Dev Hynes, Novelist fellow RATKING member Wiki, as well as remixes from Actress and Galcher Lustwerk.

Slam Dunk EP Vol II is available now exclusively through BitTorrent and will be released on all platforms on September 30th via Letter Racer and R&S Records.